Fernando Alonso said victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix in his first outing for new team Ferrari constituted a "very special day".
Bahrain GP winner labels Ferrari "the best team in the world"
Fernando Alonso said victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix in his first outing for new team Ferrari constituted a "very special day".
The Spaniard led home team-mate Felipe Massa at the Sakhir circuit on Sunday to confirm his status as the pre-season title favourite - the Ferrari pair albeit profiting after leader Sebastian Vettel fell off the pace when his Red Bull lost power.
Even so, Alonso finished almost 16 seconds ahead of Massa and 23 seconds in front of the third-placed McLaren of Lewis Hamilton.
"A very special day for me," said Alonso, whose last victory came in the 2008 Japanese Grand Prix. "Coming back the top of the podium is always special but even more special with Ferrari.
"We have history behind the team and all the expectations a driver has when he drives for Ferrari.
"There is no better way to start the relationship. This is the best team in the world, we worked hard all winter, the guys did a very good job in winter testing.
"We have done nothing so far - we only won the first race but to be first and second is the result that the guys in Maranello deserve because they have been working day and night to give us this fantastic car.
"This first victory is dedicated to all the people in Italy, the mechanics here and president (Luca) di Montezemolo. This result is very, very positive."
Delight
Despite his evident delight at the result, one which places him alongside the likes of Kimi Raikkonen and Nigel Mansell as drivers to win on their Ferrari debut, Alonso insisted not too much could be read into it.
"The first three or four races of the Championship are not crucial for anything, you just need some solid points for the team, to get used to the regulations, the tyres, the races themselves," the double World Champion added.
"There are now more points but this first part is not the crucial part of the Championship. It is nice to be here, but this is down to the fantastic car we have.
"I think the key to be World Champion will be the battle during the season, we had a good base but we need to keep working. Now it is time to push."
Massa, meanwhile, thanked God for his result - the Brazilian making his return to racing after undergoing life-saving surgery following his accident in Hungary last July.
"It's fantastic to be here, and thank God I'm here, that I'm fine and in a competitive car," he said.
"Every driver has supported me, and I've received plenty of letters from all around the world which has given me plenty of motivation."
Saving fuel
Having out-qualified his new team-mate, Massa ceded second place to Alonso at the exit of the opening corner.
He also said a loss of temperature meant he had to save fuel during the latter stages of the race.
He added: "I lost an important position to Fernando at the start.
"But then it was just great for me after that, the car was perfect until I started to lose temperature.
"It affected fuel consumption and I had to save fuel for the last 25 to 30 laps. After that it was quiet for me and I managed to hold position."
